Hyatt Gold Passport - When might Hyatt know enough about what the cc is doing for them...

...in terms of stay loyalty per se with Hyatt to possibly cause a course correction with Gold Passport?

At this point, no one can doubt that the credit card has had a big impact on Gold Passport. The supposition: Before Hyatt jumps back into the loyalty game as we know it can - or if they ever do - they want to see what the card is doing for them, both in terms of uptake and retention, stay spend as well as cc spend. Stays may be secondary to card loyalty, but, again, the question here is what is it going to take for them to get back into the room-filling hotel loyalty game. How many customers add Hyatt stays? How many (more) add enough stays that they would retain Platinum? How many additional customers grow into Diamonds? (And how many non-cardholders are lost?) Likely, such data can be easily queried. How many months or quarters?

Several participants in this forum know how such questions are dealt with in the industry -- even at Hyatt. Agree with the supposition? If so, when do you think Hyatt might respond in Gold Passport? Even if you don't agree -- when do you think we might see any change in course from the one we've seen since the card was introduced?

I've often wondered why they seem to place so much value on the cc. I assume it's the "selling" of points to Chase is easy money.

But the Hyatt VISA is so weak. The only "double points" opportunity with this card is for "Hyatt spend". So guess where the only place I use my Hyatt VISA is ? Hyatt isn't selling a lot of points to Chase on my behalf.

And having their credit card doesn't drive more of my business to Hyatt. I have the card because I stay at Hyatt, not the other way around. So they haven't sold me more rooms due to the card.

The primary reason Hyatt won me over from HHonors was the Gold Passport program (I also like the Hyatts more, but with smaller coverage than HHilton, it's a "wash"). The points I earn on cc spend doesn't come close to matching the points I used to get for Gx and other bonuses. If those bonuses were dropped in favor of selling points to Chase, then Hyatt has intentionally left me holding the short end of the stick. That doesn't exactly leave me feeling "more than welcome".

Add to all this is that since getting my Hyatt VISA, I now have a Chase Sapphire. With Sapphire, I get double points on hotels and many other "spend types". Guess which card I never leave home without ?
And I can exchange Sapphire points 1-to-1 for Hyatt points. Hyatt could end up selling Chase more points from my Sapphire card than from their own VISA :eek:

With the Sapphire card, I now keep my Hyatt VISA only because, once a year, I can get a cat4 room for $75. I consider the extra bonus points that the card gives me on Hyatt promos as a small amount of icing on the cake.
I really have very little incentive to use, or even keep the Hyatt VISA.
And in my example, I'm at a loss as to how Hyatt benefits from offering this card.

I would think that they have a pretty good idea now since the card has been out for about 18 months - certainly they'd have a good idea by year end.

Regarding the statement that the card seems weak, it's partially because they "listened" to us before the credit card came out that our big concern was dilution of status (hence having the credit card doesn't give any credit towards Diamond status - just automatic Platinum status which doesn't really give that much in terms of perks). And if they gave more bonus points (2x per $ spent) for more categories, there would be that much more points chasing award nights.

Another weakness of the Hyatt Visa -- Hyatt's participation in the American Express Open savings scheme. When I use my SPG business Amex at Hyatt in the US I get 1 starpoint per dollar plus 3% savings. That's clear worth more than two goldpassport points.

I think many of us here are waiting for the Cash and Points program from Hyatt. If it is anywhere near competitive to Starwood's, then Hyatt points might be more valuable. Right now it's hard to get enough Hyatt points for a top hotel (22k at most of the places we like), but if we could use 8k plus $150 to stay at one of the PH (unlikely PHV since it's pretty packed anyway), we might get the card again and actually use it. But then again, why use the card when you get more points from the ShappireP card? They're going to have to up their game in order to get people to use the card more...

Of course the rest of the world (i.e. not the US) certainly hopes we don't see another revaluation of stay points required for free nights as we don't have access to the 'easy' earning of points through the card, but have lived through the revaluation that resulted.

Of course the rest of the world (i.e. not the US) certainly hopes we don't see another revaluation of stay points required for free nights as we don't have access to the 'easy' earning of points through the card, but have lived through the revaluation that resulted.

I think you have missed the point completely, and somehow insulted an entire population at the same time. Did you intend to do that, or just did it accidentally?

There's no reason to use the Hyatt credit card anywhere but at a Hyatt. The earnings ratio is poor when compared to just about any other credit card when using the card anywhere but at Hyatt.

And what revaluation did you live through? The recent category adjustments were basically neutral. Though many here argued otherwise.

-David

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Struggling to read anything insulting into Markie's post...

And the introduction of cat 6 (increasing points required for top hotels from 18 to 22k) just before the arrival of the cc sure felt like a devaluation here...

Nothing insulting in Markie's message.... However the reply to it....

As an international GP member I also share the sentiment that the Hyatt CC has brought nothing good into the program for members not living in the US.

It's not that we are missing out on two free nights and plat membership for practically nothing.... But since the cc is here the bonus offers, that we can take advantage of, seem to get more insignificant.

And to annoy us even more the latest bonus offer even gives extra points for cc holders, once again an offer the international members cannot take advantage of.

And for sure all those points earned with the cards will eventually lead to a devaluation of our points.

I think you have missed the point completely, and somehow insulted an entire population at the same time. Did you intend to do that, or just did it accidentally?

:confused: Please point out to me any part of his post which is 'insulting' because I certainly can't see it.


And what revaluation did you live through? The recent category adjustments were basically neutral. Though many here argued otherwise.

-David

18k -> 22k (22% increase) for top end properties is a big devaluation for someone who mainly redeems at top tier properties and is more of a problem for people living outside the US where we often only have access to one property in a city which is a top tier property.

:confused: Please point out to me any part of his post which is 'insulting' because I certainly can't see it.


probably because you don't see the the non-US thing as insulting either.

But that detracts from the main point I was trying to make which is about valuation and that the Hyatt CC is NOT a good source of Hyatt points other than when used at Hyatt. (Though Chase Sapphire Preferred is a better source, but you can't get that cc either.)

Yes, there was a category adjustment affecting all the categories, but that was a long time ago already. We're still complaining about that?

On the serious side, I do understand the point that Markie was trying to make. I just wish he would have expressed it differently. The bonuses etc have changed, but that's a change that happened before the CC was introduced. The free credit card night bonuses probably do impact what the program can do now, but exactly how is unknown.

-David

I received an email from a former Diamond Gold Passport guest last week saying she left Gold Passport with the end of G bonuses, frequent airline mileage promotions and what appears to be the elimination of lucrative promotions like “Faster Free Nights” and a decline in point room redemption value.
Basically she misses some aspects of staying with Hyatt and wanted to know if they were going to bring back the excitement to the program or replace it with something else.
Of course I couldn’t answer those questions.

Oddly she asked why I bothered to stay at Hyatt with the decline of a once great program something I clearly don’t agree with.
She also went onto say that she left for Starwood Preferred Guest where she feels Lifetime Platinum is within easy reach compared to the limited and very expensive reach of Diamond lifetime where even eligible spending is eliminated when choosing miles for ones stay.
The now SPG Platinum member likes also that the lifetime Platinum is based on nights/stay count as opposed to 200k in spend or 1 million base points
She also felt that it was more important to be able to confirm her suite upgrades on revenue or award.

I still remain a reasonably satisfied customer of Hyatt Gold Passport as I do Starwood Preferred Guest.
Unlike this guest who wants one or the other program.
I like particpating in both.If Hyatt has a dull quarter with nothing interesting on the table I am happy to do the business elsewhere
And if the hotel is really special I might overlook the promotion entirely and stay where they care about the guest experience

I do agree with a number of her spot on observations however I shared the guest experience has improved in many properties as a result of program improvements despite the loss of powerhouse promotions to encourage more frequency.

Having considered that conversation with regard to my own business I am also spending more in Hyatt’s as I decided frequency and price for me was less important than stay quality and overall experience .
In a nut shell I am willing to pay more today (as I have more disposable income now) to be happy where just a few years ago it was all about price and program promotion ROI. If the GP changes came 5 years ago I too likely would have walked away from the program. So I understand fully this members reasoning and decision making.Not all of us can aford particpation in more than one program based on need of travel or costs.

Back on topic. I do know that the Hyatt folks are hard at work reviewing the and evaluating the Hyatt Chase Visa and are anxious to make/enhance it a more compelling and rewarding card that cardholders will want to pull from their wallets more frequently when spending and those considering a wide array of other credit card offers to choose the Hyatt Visa instead.

A reasoned and thoughtful post, as always. Here is where we agree the most:


...I still remain a reasonably satisfied customer of Hyatt...

Actually, I even disagree with that a wee bit. I am virtually always more than satisfied with Hyatt! Exclamation point, full stop.

But as I've commented elsewhere, meanwhile, I discovered Club Carlson. They want me, and not for my credit card. Some amazing intro deals, and since that time, they haven't let up. They seem to have someone at the helm who has the inspiration or free rein that Mr. Zidell had. Also along the way I learned that they actually have more properties than Hyatt. What a sleeper they've been, but apparently are intent on changing that.

Where we continue to most disagree is, I still think that the better they make the card - and I know it's a minority opinion here to say I include going international - the worse it'll be for Gold Passport. Maybe not for Mr. Zidell and Hyatt. And I am clear that, from the number of hits on the thread I started about it, I am way in the minority.

But that detracts from the main point I was trying to make which is about valuation and that the Hyatt CC is NOT a good source of Hyatt points other than when used at Hyatt.

Why does it have to be anything more than that? I use my hyatt credit card exclusively for hyatt properties along with the occasional other spend when AMEX isn't taken somewhere, which is very rare.

There will always be better point options on other types of spend with all the different cards - call it tradeoffs. If you are expecting a single card to be the end all be all of your spend, you're going to be disappointed with ALL cards.

IMHO, the purpose of the hyatt credit card is to PUSH spend to hyatt properties, which they may get with 3 points a dollar plus added bonuses on top of "winter promo" type bonuses.

A reasoned and thoughtful post, as always. Here is where we agree the most:



Actually, I even disagree with that a wee bit. I am virtually always more than satisfied with Hyatt! Exclamation point, full stop.

But as I've commented elsewhere, meanwhile, I discovered Club Carlson. They want me, and not for my credit card. Some amazing intro deals, and since that time, they haven't let up. They seem to have someone at the helm who has the inspiration or free rein that Mr. Zidell had. Also along the way I learned that they actually have more properties than Hyatt. What a sleeper they've been, but apparently are intent on changing that.

Where we continue to most disagree is, I still think that the better they make the card - and I know it's a minority opinion here to say I include going international - the worse it'll be for Gold Passport. Maybe not for Mr. Zidell and Hyatt. And I am clear that, from the number of hits on the thread I started about it, I am way in the minority.

To one of my favorite posters BTW :cool:
My quote may have been misunderstood in the way I presented it my apologies.Won't be a first :o
What I meant to say that despite the changes to promotional aspects overall I still remain a reasonably satisfied Gold Passport customer all things considered.
Gold Passport is my primary program (which speaks for itself)

Yes I prefer that G bonuses come back or the GP folks introduce something exciting with relationship with the CC which isnt going away anytime soon.
Certainly Priority Club is rich in earnings for those chasing free nights like Club Carlson.
Actually I have a few great ideas I meant to share with the Hyatt folks last time I saw them and hope too in the near future......

Believe that even with some of the changes promotionally that Mr.Zidell and Ms. Mizwicki and the team have implemented Gold Passport program became an inspiring recognition program that hadn't improved in may years prior to their arrival in Hyatt World HQ.

With all due respect and I have been wrong and right before its of my personal opinion Gold Passport is seeking a different customer than years past
Certainly the change in direction will affect some portion of the membership base. The direction however has already been set in stone and regardless if the card goes global with other banking partners overseas it’s not going to change much of what's taken place in the last 24 months the positive or the negative. The future remains to be seen.........
With regard to your most important question about when Hyatt will become more into the promotional room filling game probably not until enough members are vocal directly and domestic or global demand softens and or a recession deepens.

We can all hope and wish what Hyatt will and won't do but in my eyes they have already set the tone.
At the end of day we all have to decide if we are with the Gold Passport, another program or perhaps a variety by being an equal opportunity customer.
My time in the world of loyalty programs and even entrenched in a variety of programs allows me to choose more wisely for my ultimate satisfaction.
Appreciate the thread and topic
Cheers :cool:

I am of the opinion that Hyatt having gone public is part of the picture of why this credit card was going to come into being and that going public is a major factor in why devaluation of points will have gotten worse than before.

Having gotten into the hotel point sales business to a credit card partner, Hyatt backing out of this line of business seems far less likely than Hyatt ramping up sales of points to their banking/credit card partner.

I really don't see a non-US Hyatt card coming into the picture anywhere beyond perhaps Canada (if even that) in the next several years; however, I certainly do expect Hyatt will try to ramp up sales of points to its banking/credit card partner in a way that will at first glance seem advantageous for US-based customers who decide to get a Hyatt credit card but will end up hitting all with a bigger devaluation of the points than would otherwise be the case if the Hyatt credit card relationship and/or Hyatt initial public offering hadn't taken place.

Why does it have to be anything more than that?

that was out of context. The original reply was to Markies post.

Of course the rest of the world (i.e. not the US) certainly hopes we don't see another revaluation of stay points required for free nights as we don't have access to the 'easy' earning of points through the card, but have lived through the revaluation that resulted.

-David

I really don't see a non-US Hyatt card coming into the picture anywhere beyond perhaps Canada (if even that) in the next several years.

I'm sure you are right... It's never going to be worth the hassle. If only those US banks would be a little more international. I sometimes could use a US bank account and a US cc would also come in handy....

I wonder what percentage of GP members is from the US. It must be quite high else it's even more stupid not to offer anything to your other customers. I guess the time has come for something like a "global" bank account to be available. I had hopes for Paypal or something like MS or Google, but that has failed to materialize....

It might be little bit off the topic, but let me ask you a question.

I will be relocating to Asia, and I was wondering if I can keep my Hyatt Visa account while changing the billing address to overseas address?

Thanks!

Call Chase about that. They have allowed some customers who moved abroad to continue to have active Chase credit card accounts, but I am not sure if that is because they found a convenient US address to use or if Chase actually decided to mail routine material overseas.

In this era of online statements and bills, I usually cut up the paper statements, if any, send by the banks which provide me deposit or credit facilities without even checking out the paper statements since I have already paid the bills online after having seen the account activity online. That should be one reason to allow for accounts to be maintained if a person moves overseas; but then there are the more complicated compliance and collection-related cost concerns that arise more for overseas customers than domestic ones.

I'm sure you are right... It's never going to be worth the hassle. If only those US banks would be a little more international. I sometimes could use a US bank account and a US cc would also come in handy....

I wonder what percentage of GP members is from the US. It must be quite high else it's even more stupid not to offer anything to your other customers. I guess the time has come for something like a "global" bank account to be available. I had hopes for Paypal or something like MS or Google, but that has failed to materialize....

Don't hold the breath waiting for that, especially in a context where even some US citizens abroad for most of their life are having problems with opening financial accounts in the US.

Governments are so obsessed about monitoring and/or being able to try to control people that any system that challenges governmental ability to do that -- and "global banking" facilities created by non-traditional financial intermediaries does just that -- that they will try to discourage it by some means or another; and the traditional financial intermediaries will be more than content to let governments do their dirty work to try to undermine competition from non-traditional replacements to traditional retail and commercial banks. This issue isn't unique to the US, as is evidenced by some countries making a stink about credit on "anonymous" prepaid telephone accounts being used as a currency of its own. Welcome to the multi-governmental war on money which makes your desire with regard to the Hyatt card even more improbable than it already was for reasons of lenders concerns about the creditworthiness of applicants.

As an international GP member I also share the sentiment that the Hyatt CC has brought nothing good into the program for members not living in the US.


As a domestic Diamond, I don't think the Hyatt CC has brought anything useful to the program for members living IN THE US. :D

But then again, I don't have the stupid card. Just don't see the point. A

And this is likely to be my last year as a Diamond.

As a domestic Diamond, I don't think the Hyatt CC has brought anything useful to the program for members living IN THE US. :D

But then again, I don't have the stupid card. Just don't see the point. A

And this is likely to be my last year as a Diamond.

I'm not incredibly enthused about the card, either. I wish it'd add some random perks--it doesn't even have to be perks tied to Hyatt specifically. Something like the Chase BA card--$50 credit on Michelin-rated restaurants would be awesome, for instance. Just something else to make the card more exciting and worth the annual fee (yeah, yeah, I know about the two free nights for the first year and the Cat 4 for the second year, but...)

I live in the US and have the card. My wife has one as well.

We used the 4 (total) free night certificates on a trip that went through Paris. The time we spent at the Park Vendome basically for free was very nice. We used points for more of the trip in London. I know that there are cards out there with more cents per point value but for me, this card fits my needs nicely and staying at the top hotels shift the value back in my favor.

Our next vacation (around the world trip put together by a third party) should have us staying at no less than 5 Hyatts over a 3 week period, almost all of them paid for with points and certificates. San Francisco, Saigon, Seoul, Istanbul and New York. I only wish Hyatt had properties in Rome and Athens! For that, I will probably be staying at a Hilton on Points.

I use my personal card for work purchases and expenses when possible and get reimbursed before the bill comes due. I rarely use the company card as there is little personal benefit - there is no problem with this. My wife uses her card for all the household expenses possible including utilities and pays them off monthly reaping a reasonable amount of points every month. It is a win win for us.

Air miles are a little easier for me to obtain due to work so the hotels are what I am focusing on right now.

The card is great for my needs/wants. I hope that they do not drop it!!!

I will say that more surprise perks like mentioned above would certainly be welcome. I will also say that the Category 4 certificates are a bit of a let down but at least I can use them at somewhere great like the Park Hyatt in Saigon or even the under rated Grand Hyatt in Seattle...

The card is going to remain in the picture for the foreseeable future, so the chances of getting Hyatt points from using a credit card of some sort are going to remain what they are.